‘No excuse’ for rampage at Kelmscott IGA after CCTV footage emerges of attack

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Police Minister Michelle Roberts says an angry mob has “no excuse” for a violent rampage at the supermarket where a boy was allegedly locked in a cage by the store owner for stealing a soft drink.

Ms Roberts said police would investigate after disturbing CCTV footage emerged of a group bashing the owner of Kelmscott IGA and ransacking his store, causing $2000 worth of damage.

The store made headlines earlier this month after The West Australian revealed the frustrated store owner had allegedly locked a nine-year-old boy in a cage for stealing a can of Coke.

CCTV footage, which aired on Channel 9 shows the owner being surrounded and punched at least twice, in an apparent vigilante attack.

Camera IconThe angry mob storms the store.Picture: Channel 9

The group, which includes children, is seen throwing rocks, vandalising shelves, ransacking cigarette cabinets and trashing the owner’s office.

Ms Roberts said those involved would be investigated.

“No matter what has occurred, there is no excuse for that response,” she said.

“Police will investigate that footage and they will take the appropriate action... it is not something that should have happened.

“I do urge that people should not take the law into their own hands.”

Camera IconA boy is seen throwing rocks in the store.Picture: Channel 9

The store owner’s insurer is reportedly refusing to cover the damage because the man is facing criminal charges.

The store owner’s lawyer John Hammond told 6PR Morning Show host Gareth Parker said his client was punched and kicked in the attack in scenes which were akin to a war zone.

“A group of people, a gang, came into his store and pillaged the place,” Mr Hammond said.

“In the CCTV you can see a young person packing a back full of cigarettes from behind the counter. She’s standing behind the counter opening the cigarette cupboard and filling the bag up with cigarettes. This is the sort of behaviour you’d expect in a war zone, not in Kelmscott.”

Mr Hammond said the store owner was frustrated after being targeted by countless thefts in recent months.

“Since he took over the store in April last year he said there’s been at least 40 incidents of theft,” he said.

“He has called the police in the past… I believe he’s not the only store owner that’s experiencing this. There are other store owners who believe it’s just too hard to stop people thieving. So it’s becoming a free-for-all.”

The 41-year-old man was charged with aggravated assault and deprivation of liberty after allegedly locking the nine-year-old boy in a padlocked “cage” at the back of a store after he allegedly tried to steal a can of Coke on December 30.

The boy escaped from the storeroom by smashing a window, cutting his arm as he made his escape.